I've been sick for a few days, meaning I have lots of extra time. So, I've decided to post this chapter early because I was able to write so much more this week. Please enjoy!
Rapunzel and I exited the train together. We were told to leave all animals and trunks on the train, they would be apparated into the castle. I stood in my plain black robes, not yet adorned in house colours. Rapunzel and I searched the crowd for Hiccup. The small lad was bound to be lost among all these people.
"First years!" A voice called with and Australian accent. "First years to the boats!"
"Come on!" Rapunzel gripped my wrist, pulling me eagerly towards the lake.
"Calm down, Punz." I muttered.
We walked up to what looked like a giant rabbit. Only this one was covered in strange markings and carried boomerangs strapped across his chest with leather bands. Punzie stopped to stare up at the towering rabbit at a loss for words.
Suddenly, a scrawny figure enveloped in billowing robes strode towards us, dodging the people around him.
"Hey, Merida! Rapunzel!" He said.
I nearly chortled in laughter. Hiccup's robes were made much too large for him, nearly swallowing him in black, billowing fabric.
"Yeah, yeah." He sighed. "Dad may have ordered them too large."
The wind billowed through his cloke, whipping it around him in large swooping movements. Rapunzel dropped my wrist and continued staring up at the bunny.
Hiccup followed our gazes and took in the sight. His face lit up as he recognized the creature.
"You're a Pooka!" He said, pointing up at the rabbit.
The rabbit let out a deep chuckle and looked down at him.
"I've read about you. You're a powerful warrior, and your power only increases when eating 'chocolate'." Hiccup recited, pronouncing the last word very clearly, as though he were unsure what it was.
"Yes, that I am. I'm the last of my kind ya know. My names Professor Bunnymund, by the way, and I'll be your Care of Magical Creatures and your Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher." He raised his voice above the large crowd. "Everybody, three to a boat. That's it, no shoving. The boats will take us right up to Hogwarts. Get moving, you ankle-biters..." The kids began surging forwards, eager to claim a boat.
I began dragging Rapunzel forward, towards Hiccup when the crowd pushed forward, sending him over the docks. A small shout was heard from Hiccup as well as a small splash.
"Hiccup!" Rapunzel called.
Snickering and laughter could be heard among the crowd.
"Crikey!" The pooka called. "You okay, kid?" He stared down at the dark water.
"Uh-yes. Yeah I'm fine. Landed in a boat." He called back.
I gave a little sigh of relief.
"Really don't like boats." He said to himself.
I leaned over the edge, making sure to be careful and not fall in myself.
"Hiccup, what are you doing?" I called. His boat had begun to drift away from the others, as he lay on his back, trying to push himself up into a sitting position.
"I'm not actually doing anything..." He called back.
"Stop drifting you idiot!" I called.
"Leave him be." Prof. Bunnymund told me. "Just need to get these other devils into the boats and we'll be off."
As Prof. Bunnymund continued rounding up the still laughing children, Hiccup sat nervously in the boat, unsure of what to do.
Rapunzel stared anxiously at Hiccup's boat, then to the dark, murky water, then back up to Hiccup's boat.
"Relax, Punzie. He'll be fine. Let's just get into a boat so we can catch up to him."
I pulled Rapunzel over to one of the last rafts, directing her to a seat before pushing off myself and leaping in behind her.
I shook the water out of the hem of my too-large robes as kids laughed and passed me. Just my luck, first few minutes off the train and I've already caused a disaster, managed to embarrass myself in front of hundreds of students, and looked like a complete fool all the while. I scowled and squeezed the remaining water out of my cloak, then looking up, I saw Merida and Rapunzel, coming my way. I dropped the hem of my robes and stood, waiting for them.
Merida walked up to me and pulled back a fist, punching me in the arm.
"Ow!" I cried. "What was that for?"
"Being a bloody idiot." Merida glared. "If I had known you were this accident prone I would've-"
"First years over here!" A kind, high-pitched voice called out. Standing in font of two large, double doors stood a fluttering faerie, dressed in glimmering robes adorned with feathers that shone iridescent in the torchlight.
We made our way to the hovering woman and eyed her shimmering wings with awe. An actual Fae, here in the castle. What other mysterious creatures did these stones wall hold?
"Welcome first years, to Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry. My name is Professor Toothiana, and I am your Transfiguration teacher. Past these doors lays the Great Hall, as well as all your fellow students and Professors. Now, if all of you could line up in alphabetical order...'' She began fluttering around the students calling out names and lining them up in front of the doors.
"Why do you think she's lining us up in alphabetical order?" Rapunzel asked.
"I dunno." Merida said. "Mum told me there's some sort of testing so they can sort you out between the houses."
"Testing?" I asked. Great, just another thing I could fail on today. I groaned.
"My Mum said it should be easy, then again, she was a top student..."
"Corona? Rapunzel Corona?" Prof. Toothiana's voice rang out.
Rapunzel looked nervous, she was fiddling with her braid as she reluctantly stepped into line.
"You'll do fine, Rapunzel." I assured her.
She gave a small smile, before turning to face the front.
A few moments passed as Merida and I stood there.
"You don't think she's calling full names, do you?'' I asked Merida quietly.
"Why?'' She asked.
"No reason. Just not exactly fond of my full name.''
Merida's eyes glinted with malevolent joy.
''Whats so secret about your name that you want no one hearing it?'' She asked.
''I'm not-''
"DunBroch? Merida DunBroch?" Prof. Toothiana called.
I breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they didn't call out full names...
I stood quietly for three minutes, waiting for Prof. Toothiana to call my name. Finally, she called out ''Haddock? Hiccup Haddock?''.
I stepped into line behind a tall girl, her height blocking my view of Rapunzel and Merida in front of me.
I took a deep breath before Prof. Toothiana finished her list. Then, she made her way to the front of the line and stood in front of the double doors. She gave a brief speech explaining the houses.
''Each house has certain attributes which define them from the rest. Gryffindors are known to be brave and daring, Hufflepuffs are loyal and honest. Wise Ravenclaws are very intelligent and Slytherin is home to the sly and cunning. The house you will be sorted into will be your home for the rest of your years at Hogwarts. The people within your house will be your family, and your classmates.'' She clasped her hands together and with a final, cheerful flutter she opened the doors. " Without further ado, I show you the Great Hall."
My jaw dropped open when I entered the great hall. Candles floated through the air, giving the room a magical and beautiful appearance. I looked behind me to see Hiccup staring in awe up at the ceiling.
"Of course..." I muttered, not surprised by the wee lambs reaction. I thought back to that feeling on the train, as though there was something about him that just... I shook off the thought and continued taking in the scene around me.
I could hear the applause of the students surrounding us, welcoming us to their school. I felt a pride swelling in my chest. I had been chosen for this school, been on the list since birth and now I was going to be sorted, and finally become a true member of Hogwarts.
One of the Prof.'s had brought out a brown hat, dusty from misuse. They placed it on a stool and walked back to their place at the head table.
''So this is how they're gonna sort us?'' I thought. "A dusty hat?''
I turned my attention back to Prof. Toothiana, who fluttered just above everyone's heads so the people in the back could hear her.
"We will now begin the sorting." She called out. Quickly, the room collapsed into excited whispers from the students. Prof. Toothiana began calling out names, going in alphabetical order. Every time one of the students approached the wooden stool set out on the the floor, she would place the hat atop their heads, and the hat would call out the house they belonged in. The hat spoke!
After some time, the hat called out Rapunzel's name.
"Rapunzel Gothel Corona'' It called in a gruff voice, as though it hadn't spoken for centuries. Rapunzel stepped forward, one foot after another and sat on the small wooden stool.
"Why, hello there." A gruff voice spoke in my mind. I nearly leapt from my seat, surprised that the magical hat could speak.
"Hmmm...interesting. There's definitely strong loyalty, great quality for Hufflepuff."
"You can talk?" I whispered.
The hat let out a gentle chuckle."Yes, yes...oh, great intelligence, I see...Tell me, which house would you like to be in?"
I took a deep breath. "Whichever one I deserve to be in." I said, confident in my answer.
"Hmmm...better be RAVENCLAW!"
The hat called out.
I stood from my seat and walked over to the blue and silver table, my heart thumping. I was a Ravenclaw, house of the wise and intelligent. Mother would be proud.
"Merida DunBroch!"
I stepped forward, making sure my footsteps were firm and my knees did not shake. I would appear brave in front of my fellow students.
I sat down confidently on the wooden stool, my eyes staring straight ahead, waiting for the old hat to be placed upon my head and call out my future house.
"Hmmm...I see. Very brave and courageous." The hat spoke in my mind. I was shocked. Not only was this hat magical, but it could also speak in my mind! " I don't think it's much of a surprise that you belong in GRYFFINDOR!"
I grinned ear to ear as the Gryffindor table applauded and hooted for me. I stood from the stool and went to sit at my house table, smiling at all the fellow Gryffindors surrounding me.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III!" The hat called out. If not for nerves, I would have groaned.
I could hear the snickers and laughs coming from the students around me. Most were directed at my name, other first years remembered me from the boat incident.
I sat down on the stool and the hat fell over my eyes. I was surrounded in darkness when a gruff voice broke through the silence.
"Oh my, a Viking." It said. " You are the very first these old walls have ever seen."
"I am?" I whispered.
"Oh, yes. I see a very bright future ahead, though it is riddled in darkness...hmmm..."
"And that's...good?'' I asked.
"We'll see..." The hat paused, then resumed talking. "I see bravery, the willingness to change things...interesting, though there is the loyalty and honesty of Hufflepuff...what to do, what to do..."
I sat there in waiting, anxiously hoping to be placed anywhere but Slytherin. They had a reputation for bullies...
"Oh, what's this, a great mind. Yes, yes very great, I know what to do. You belong in RAVENCLAW!"
I sighed in relief and stood from the stool, the sorting hat had taken much too long for my taste.
I sat down on a bench, surrounded by many other Ravenclaw's. Many looked my way as I sat down beside Rapunzel, who was beaming proudly at me. Others were not so supportive, leaning in closer to their friends and snickering behind hands. I caught a few mocking glimpses of words "Horrendous" and "klutz" among them. I sighed.
This was going to be quite the year.
Author's Note
Hope you guys enjoyed the extra long chapter! More than 2000 words long! Whew! I enjoy writing long chapters though, lucky for you guys ;). Hopefully the change of POV wasn't too confusing for everyone.. Anyways, see you next chapter!